morris



Apparatus for Resz Unoappiug, and Capping' e Shells;

G a, r trlg No. 236,611., Patented l'an. 11,1881.

zing, Unoapping, and Capping Cartridge Shells. No. 236,611.

Patented Jam-11,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

RICHARD MORRIS, OF BLACKHEATH, COUNTY OF KENT, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR RESIZING, UNCAPPING, AND CAPPING CARTRlDGE-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,611, dated January 11, 1881.

Application led December 1, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England June 26, 1880.

To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD MORRIS, of Blackheath, in the county of Kent, England, have invented a new and useful Improved Apparatus for Resizing, Uncapping, and Recapping Cartridge-Cases, for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 2,602, dated June 26, 1880, and of which the following is a specication.

When a cartridge has been tired,the empty case withdrawn from the fire-arm is somewhat expanded or otherwise forced out of its proper shape, and it has on it the case of the red percussion-cap.

My invention relates to a simple and portable apparatus which can be used by troops in the field for rendering the cases ot' fired cartridges available for repeated use, this apparatus being arranged so that the cartridgecase is by its use restored to its proper size and shape, has its used cap removed from it,

f and can be provided with a new cap, so as to be ready for charging in order to be fired again.

The construction of and mode of operating with the said apparatus will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a part side view and part longitudinal section ofthe apparatus, and Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of a modification of my invention.

A is a block of hard wood or metal, having formed in it any desired number of holes, B, constituting dies, formed at the lower part of the exact required configuration of the finished cartridge-case. If preferred, the block may contain only one such die. To the under side of the block is hinged a cover, C, having one or more screwed rods, D, pivoted to its free side. This rod has a thumb-nut, D', which, when the rod is brought inside a fork, E, provided at the top of the block, is screwed up so as to bring the cover close up against the block, as indicated by dotted lines. Thus, the cover being open, the cartridge-cases requiring to be resized are pushed by hand into the dies as far as they will go, the cover is brought up against them, as sho wn at Fig. 2,and is forced home, as above described, thus forcing the cartridgecases into the die, and causing them to assume the shape thereof. The upper ends of the dies, beyond the ends of the cartridge-cases, are reduced in diameter, so as to terminate in a hole at top of considerably less diameter than the cartridge-case, and a plunger, F, is provided which lits this hole. The top of the block A is provided with a rim, A, so as to form a shallow trough, into which,when the cartridge-cases'have been introduced as described, water or other suitable liquid is poured, so as to fill all the dies and cartridgecases. The plunger F is then successively driven into the upper open end of each die with a moderate blow from a hammer, which blow is communicated through the water as a considerable pressure, and such pressure, acting on the cap in the cap-chamber, forces it out through the hole C in the cover C, without thereby enlarging or d eformin g the hole of the cap-chamber. At the same time the water in escaping through the hole will effect the washing out of the cartridge-case. When the caps have all been removed by this means the remaining water is poured Aofi' and the apparatus is dried; after which it is turned upside down, and an anvil having been dropped into the cap-chamber of each cartridge-case through the hole G' of the cover, a fresh cap is then dropped in through the hole, and is driven home into the cap-chamber by means of the capping stud G, which is formed with a head, so as to prevent the cap from being driven in too far. The cover Gis then opened. and the resized and recapped cartridge-cases are removed to be refilled for repeated use. Where the cartridge-case is of such material as might be damaged by the use of water, another liquid, such as oil, may be used, or a tube might be inserted into the case as a temporary lining.

Although 1 prefer to construct the dies with reduced upper ends, as described,vas by this means the plunger F in acting on only asmall area will produce considerable pressure with only a moderate blow of the hammer, yet the apparatus may also be arranged as shown at Fig. 3,where the cartridge-cases extend to the upper end ofthe dies, or project slightly through them, and the plunger F is made of a diameter to tit into the cartridge-case itself. In this IOO arrangement the cover G is hinged at one end, instead ofat the side, and is secured by a pivoted catch, H.

Having thus described the nature of my invention,and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I claim- 1. In an apparatus for resizing and uncapping cartridge-cases by liquid pressure, a block provided with a series ot' holes extending through the same, the upper portions of the holes communicating with a water-trough common to all,and the lower portions of the holes constituting dies for resizing the cartridgecases, in combination with a movable cover at one side of the die block for supporting 'the' heads of the cartridge-cases while being acted upon by the liquid pressure, all substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Apparatus for resizing and uncapping cartridge-cases,consisting ofthe block A,with zo die B, cover C, screw-rod D, with nut D', and plunger F, all combined and operating as herein described.

3. Apparatus for resizing, uncapping, and recapping cartridge-cases, consisting of the 'z5 block A,with die B, cover C, screw-rod D,with nut D', plunger F, and recapping-stud G, all combined and operating as herein described.

In testimony Whereot I, the said RICHARD MORRIS, have hereunto signed my name iu the` 3o presence of two subscribin g Witnesses.

RICHARD MORRISr Witnesses CEAS. D. ABEL, OLIVER IMRAY. 

